No town council meeting today (Thursday 19 December 2024)
There is no meeting of the town council scheduled to take place this evening. The next planned meeting of the town council is on 15 January 2025 when the budget for 2025-26 will be agreed.
The town council continues to work on future plans for the Abbey Hall following the discovery of structural issues which needed to be addressed urgently and which required the closure of the building for safety reasons. Once the essential remedial work has been completed in the new year, the council will meet to consider its long-term future.
Neighbourhood Final Draft available for comment
The Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council is pleased to announce the publication of the Pre-Submission (Regulation 14) Neighbourhood Plan for Abingdon-on-Thames.
This document represents a significant step in shaping the future development and growth of the town. The council invites residents, business owners, and stakeholders to review and comment on the draft plan, which has been carefully prepared to reflect the aspirations and needs of our town and its community.
The Abingdon-on-Thames Neighbourhood Plan sets out a vision for the sustainable development of Abingdon, addressing key issues such as transport, green spaces, community facilities, and the local economy. Your feedback is essential to ensure that the plan accurately represents the views and priorities of the community and effectively guides future planning decisions.
The draft Abingdon-on-Thames Neighbourhood Plan is available for review and is available to view by clicking the following link – (Regulation 14) Neighbourhood Plan for Abingdon-on-Thames – Abingdon on Thames Town Council. We encourage you to provide your comments in writing via the online survey, which can be accessed HERE . The deadline for submitting feedback is 5pm on Monday 10th February 2025.
Your participation is crucial in shaping a plan that will benefit current and future generations of Abingdon residents. By sharing your insights and perspectives, you will contribute to the creation of a robust and comprehensive Neighbourhood Plan that aligns with our collective vision for the future. Thank you for your engagement and commitment to the positive development of our community.
Flooding from the River Ock Possible
With last night’s rain and the arrival of Storm Darragh, there is an alert for POSSIBLE FLOODING from the River Ock. You can check latest alerts here as things can change very quickly:-
Floodline helpline
Telephone: 0345 988 1188
Textphone: 0345 602 6340
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
DALTON BARRACKS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL – PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENTS THIS WEEK
Just a reminder that this week there are more opportunities to find out about the proposal to redevelop Dalton Barracks.
Drop in events are as follows:-
Thursday 5 December, 9am-12pm
The Northcourt Centre, Northcourt Road, Abingdon,
Oxon, OX14 1NS
Thursday 5 December, 5pm-8pm
Roysse Room, The Guildhall, Roysse Court, Bridge
Street, Abingdon, OX14 3HU
Friday 6 December, 9am-12pm
Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre,
Lamborough Hill, Wootton, Abingdon, OX13 6DA
Friday 6 December, 5pm-8pm
Marcham Centre, Barrow Close, Marcham, OX13 6TY
This could have a sizeable impact on Abingdon and its services, so please go along if you can spare the time.
You can read more in the newsletter:-
URGENT FLOOD WARNING – PROPERTIES CLOSEST TO THE OCK FROM TESCO TO ST HELEN’S WHARF
Property flooding is expected. River levels are rising steadily on the River Ock following heavy rainfall from Storm Bert. Therefore, flooding of property and roads is expected from this afternoon 25/11/24. Peak levels could reach similar levels to those seen in January 2024. Areas most at risk are properties located on Nash Drive, Meadowside and Chaunterell Way.
The forecast is for a predominantly dry day today with further rainfall forecast from tomorrow night (26/11/2024). River levels are expected to rise steadily through today before stabilising overnight. We are monitoring the situation. Our staff are liaising with councils and emergency services. Move possessions and valuables off the ground or to safety. Activate any property flood protection products such as flood barriers.
Abbey Hall – Latest Update
The town council has installed scaffolding within the Abbey Hall so that the ceiling and roof can be accessed. This was a complex job which took both time and a considerable sum of money, but it will enable the specialised, licensed asbestos experts to remove the ceiling tiles and design a scheme to contain the asbestos in the roof planks. This scheme will be very costly and needs to be signed off by the HSE, which will take many weeks to complete.
The Town Council is aware that that the Abbey Cinema is a well-used community facility and has agreed to give the Abbey Cinema rent-free use of the Old Magistrates’ Court from 4th November 2024 to 31st January 2025, and free use of the of the Roysse Room on 14th and 15th December for pantomime performances.
Images of the scaffolding inside Abbey Hall are provided below.
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council signs Oxfordshire Councils Charter
This charter has been developed by a cross-council working group in collaboration with Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC), to set out a framework for better partnership working in Oxfordshire. The contents of the charter have been shaped by feedback from town and parish councils across the county through a number of consultation and engagement activities.
The intention for the charter is that it is a voluntary framework that will help shape how Oxfordshire councils can work together in partnership to support better service delivery and outcomes, and to work together to ensure thriving local democracy across the county. This charter is not designed to replace or override existing frameworks, such as codes of conduct or councils’ individual ways of working, but to enhance them, with a particular focus on cross-council working and recognising the role of local councils in supporting a thriving local democracy.
You can read more about the charter here
New Play Equipment Installation at Chaunterell Way
The Town Council is pleased to confirm that some new play equipment for smaller children will start to be installed on 21st October in the park off Chaunterell Way. This is a welcome upgrade to a well used play area!
